Telford Might Help Developer

January 16, 1990|by ALEX FRAZIER

Telford Borough Council said last night it will consider joining a developer's action to overturn the Zoning Hearing Board's refusal to rezone the old Tupperware building for conversion into 35 one-bedroom condominiums.

Frank Buschman, attorney for Robert Alderfer Associates, asked council to join the developer in an action to overturn the board's decision. Council members said they would discuss the request with their solicitor and announce their decision at council's Feb. 5 meeting.

Council and Mayor Jay Stover do not want the building to remain vacant because it could attract children and become an eyesore.

Alderfer's proposal to convert the building may be the only chance to make use of it, Stover said. The building has been for sale for a long time and, if the zoning change does not go through, could be vacant indefinitely.

Borough zoners twice rejected Alderfer's plan because they thought there were too many dwelling units and the condominiums would be out of character with the neighborhood.

`As a council we would be in agreement" with the plan. "In fact, we'd endorse it,` Councilman Carl L. Osenbach said of the conversion proposal.

For more than a year, the developer has tried to convince the zoners to allow the conversion of the former Tupperware warehouse at 3rd and Railroad streets.

Alderfer has now filed an appeal of the zoners' decision in county court. According to Buschman, the borough has three options: it can do nothing and let the court decide, it can actively support the proposal by filing a consent decree; or it can rezone the property if the court denies the appeal.